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Re: Wahpeton, Kindred and Fargo

Posted by Tulio on Thu Aug 21, 2003 01:35:58 AM

In reply top Re: Wahpeton, Kindred and Fargo posted by Al Moore on Wed Aug 20, 2003 04:48:24 PM

Al, here it goes:

Wahpeton:

"45-11586" N-51HT

There is a tail cone belonging to NL-51KF, showing some signs of damage, evidently from an accident some time ago.

There were several Mustangs being worked on:

two "D" (or K ?).

Two A (or C)

A full wing on a jig, with landing gear on.

The P-51D fuse, with elevator in place, no engine or doghouse. This is the P-51 provening from the Dominican Republic, no serial or numbers visible.

Ex-Uruguayan (FAU-252) AF F-51D, is almost ready to fly, now bears RCAF markings and City of Winnipeg Sqdn. titles, "AC-274" This airplane is now N-63476 (RCAF 9274, AAF s/n 44-63476). It looks really neat in the smart color scheme it wears. Left side titling on the airplane identifies it also as a Mustang Tactical Fighter Mk. 4.

There are two main fuselages in jigs, both identified as P-51A, one of them I understand, was exhibited in Oshkosh.

There are wings, wing sets, lots of spares and components, machinery, and such, but the most valuable asset in my opinion, are the techs working there. They have a great attitude, are friendly, and while busy, they stop and talk to you about the favorite subject (Mustangs, of course) and they do know their stuff.

Also saw, in another hangar, a very tired-looking B-25, serial is 44-30010, tail number shows 043; it has a non-standard B-25 nose-cone, and with a faded "499" on the (R) side of the nose.

There is a complete B-25 glass nose in the same hangar, evidently for some future restoration work. In the same hangar, there is a Taylorcraft (sorry, did not see any registration, just the numbers 454920) without wings, but in D-day invasion markings.

Next to it, there is yet another P-51 D fuselage, supported by a wheeled jig.

There is a T-6 / SNJ fuselage, without engine, fuselage panels on pilots' area removed, and the wings for this one, are probable the ones seen in another hangar, undergoing work.

Next hangar over, a Pristine (I mean it) Mitsubishi A6M Zero (sub-variant unknown to me). It has tail numbers: A1-1-129 (or, are those "Is"?) plus the numbers 6533 amid a lot of Japanese ideograms inside a square on the fuselage sides.

Also seen, SNJ-4-NT BuNo 15328, N-796WM. "94" overall silver, stored next to the Zero.

There were two Corsairs, one of them very complete, full fuselage, mounted on a jig.

Main fuselage section for another Corsair (FG-1D) is inside a small building, but no identifying marks seen. Reportedly this came from a fire dump in Rhode Island.

To be rebuilt soon, is the original Racing Corsair F2-G2 (please correct my nomenclature, I believe it is wrong).

At Kindred:

Outside:
Tail-less Lockheed T-33B-15-LO (I believe it to be a T-33A-) and it is going to be mounted on a pole and displayed somewhere in the Kindred airport area. From the I.D. plate:
58-619-A
Order No. AF-33600
34659

Inside the hangar, P-51 (I was told it was the "Millie G") G*CY, no other serials or registration visible.

At the Fargo Air Museum:

N.A.A. F-86 "MiG Mad Marine" NX-188RL, 24584, FU-584; reportedly landed at Fargo to re-fuel, and upon engine re-start there was some kind of elevated pressure problems somewhere, and the airplane was left there, until it is repaired. It is stored inside the museum.

P-51D NL-151RJ, 44-74404 (Bob Odegaard's)B*CH, "474404"

C-47/DC-3, N-1XP, 0-93800, s/n 4733, "Minnie H" painted on the nose, North Dakota ANG (41-48630).

J-1 Standard (1917 model) N-9477

Fairchild PT-19 "21" N-51437

Interstate L-6 N-52413, 432763

Beech D-17S Staggerwing, N-160, s/n 4836

Grumman TMB-3E BuNo 53892, NL-293E "CC" 89

There is a stripped BT-13 fuselage, undergoing restoration.

Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair NX-72378, "97388) "C" in VF-42 markings and sporting number 310 in the nose.

Boeing Stearman in civilian scheme, N-5057N

Scale FW-190-A3 N-317DG

Stinson L-5 N-46JB, 298593

Bell UH-1H cockpit section only (67-17406)

PZL-Mielec TS-11 Iskra, N-66EN, IHO-314.

Outside: Beech C-45 N-375VU

I will be glad to scan some of the pictures and send them to whoever requests them; please e-mail me:

chubasco@laahs.com, and state as Subject of message:

Photos from ND

Saludos!

Tulio








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